Singer-songwriter Nate Harar, also known as Dalton, has released his new single ‘This Way’ lifted from his upcoming album, ’To the Woods’, due out October 22nd via AWAL. Dalton released his self-titled debut album on the indie label Fierce Panda Records in 2015. The album was well-received (London In Stereo, NME, The Line of Best Fit, Clash, Drowned In Sound). He then followed that up with a five-song EP released in 2017, along with a second full-length, ‘Take Shelter’, in 2019.
Driving on a swarm of fuzzy guitars, ‘This Way’ is an invigorating new single from Dalton. Filled with lush harmonies, buoyant rhythms and a breezy melody Dalton creates a sweet nostalgic gem laced in euphoric instrumentation – the track packs one hefty shoegaze punch as the blitz of sharp guitars bluster around a dreamy melody and sun-kissed 90’s soundscapes. ‘This Way’ is well crafted and layered to perfection to create a richly textured tune that boasts Dalton’s refined and exhilarating musicianship.
Sun Mahshene have released their new single, ‘The Righteous One.’ Sun Mahshene’s collective years of experience have helped them deliver some incredible live shows, including appearances at Whelan’s Ones to Watch 2018 and 2019, Ireland Music Week 2019, and high-profile support slots including Black Doldrums (UK), Magic Shoppe (US), Stony Sugarskull (DE) and Wand (US). Releases to date include three self-published EP’s, followed by three critically acclaimed singles on Reckless Records IE. Spotify and extensive national and international airplay supported these singles with playlists on the BBC and RTÉ Radio radio.
‘The Righteous One’ is an exhilarating psychedelic rock anthem that fizzes with the luring musicianship of Sun Mahshene. The track effortlessly weaves between hazy shoegaze, crashing indie rock, and dazzling psychedelia to create a high-quality gem that is a joy to listen to. Layering fuzzed guitars over agile rhythms the band provide an expansive and biting wall of sound. The whirring on guitars creates an ominous and mysterious quality within the band’s brand of psychedelic shoegaze whilst also capturing the most captivating sonic elements of 90’s guitar music.
The blazing instrumentation swirls around a sweet, delicate melody while supple vocals from Nathan Henderson anchors the listener within the musical maelstrom. He coos through the bewitching soundscape with a cool, emotive tone while bass rumbles, and pounding drums, wrestle for dominance in the thrilling background. Frenetic distortion covers the atmosphere in a crazed frenzy of crashing guitars, agitated bass and resounding drums as the harsh backdrop becomes aggressive for the building crescendo. At the same time, Henderson’s vocals echo gently, creating a blissfully dreamy, hypnotic contrast for the listener to indulge in.
‘The Righteous One’ is a glorious assault on the senses. Sun Mahshene have a masterful ability to express emotion through the medium of music. This is what makes them so special. They have a remarkable sound that entrances the listener from the very first note. ‘The Righteous One’ takes their music to a new level of achievement as Sun Mahshene continue to explore the depths of their unique, mesmerising musicianship.
Thom Southern has released his highly anticipated second single ‘Perfect Someone’. The song was co-produced by the legendary Adrian Bushby (Muse, Foo Fighters, Feeder).After recently bursting onto the scene with the fuzzy debut single ‘Shivers’, the Belfast based artist is already making a powerful and unforgettable first impression.Thom Southern also co-writes and produces for his sister Lucy Gaffney. Following the success of their previous joint ventures Southern and MMODE, the pair are both now simultaneously striking out with exciting solo projects.
‘Perfect Someone’ is a sweet slice of shoegaze. Thom Southern has created a song doused in rich textures and lush tones, he builds the track superbly creating soundscapes so pure and passionate it holds your heart in suspense for each note. With pulsing beats and dreamy melody this chillwave pop tune is saturated in sweet nostalgia. The flashing synths create a mystifying wall of sound as Southern’s velvety vocals coo through the rush of sonic flurries to soothe the scorching backdrop. Exuding tight production and superb musicianship ‘Perfect Someone’ is a beautifully crafted track from Thom Southern.
Thom Southern elaborates on the lyrical sentiment for the new single…“Perfect Someone is a bittersweet story of nostalgia and young love. I wanted to write a song about that moment when out of the blue an old romance pops into your head and takes you straight back to a specific time and place. The lyrics are about finding an old coat that hasn’t been worn in years with a photograph inside one of the pockets. You remember how good that day was but inevitably you know it will never be the same again. I wanted to embody the track with repetitive melodies which create the immediate atmosphere of nostalgia. I used an 808 drum machine to make the track hypnotic to take you through the story in a quick, simple way just like when a memory flashes into your head and then it’s gone.”
Hailing from Belfast, the now Liverpool based, Irish songwriter Lucy Gaffney has released her new single ‘Send Me Away’,via Frictionless Music. The track was produced by The Coral’s James Skelly and featuring on the track alongside Lucy is Thom Southern (Electric Guitar, Bass) and Jim Sharrock(Drums).Previously, Lucy was part of Marathon signed band Southern, alongside her brother and consistent collaborator Thom. Her short solo career – with just the one single out so far – has already seen acclaim from the iconic Liam Gallagher (who called her music ‘celestial’), a collaboration with DMA’s and tours with Bill Ryder Jones and She Drew The Gun. Big supporters at radio have come in the form of BBC Radio 1, as well as BBC Introducing Merseyside and BBC Introducing Ulster.
‘Send Me Away’ is a dreamyslice of psychedelic shoegaze as Lucy Gaffney’s delicate vocals drift over an expanding swirling soundscape. The effervescent instrumental backdrop fizzes and swells to create an intoxicating wall of sound. With sweet guitar refrains piercing the thick euphoric bass ripples and driving beat, the track instantly lifts you into an ethereal state of bliss. The melody is saturated in irresistible hooks and syrupy textures. As the song progresses distorted guitars superbly build creating pockets of piercing scintillation through the dazing synths while Gaffney innocently coos over the tense edgy soundscape. Lucy Gaffney is a compelling artist and talented songwriter, showing strong personal musical growth from her days in Southern and MMode. I’m looking forward to hearing more from Lucy Gaffney in the future.
About the track Gaffney explains: “For me the track really encapsulates the dreamy element in the idea of love, getting lost in intoxicating moments and the electric excitement of the unknown. With the recording I wanted to capture the garage band rawness from when I wrote it in the rehearsal studio. There’s an honest naivety to it that fizzes with electric quirks and kinks from start to finish, igniting an in the moment carefree edge.”
Dublin based alt-rock four piece Banríon have released their debut EP ‘Airport Dads’.Following the release of her solo single ‘bins’, songwriter and guitarist Róisín Ní Haicéid recruited drummer Michael Nagle, bassist John Harding and guitarist Ivan Rakhmanin to form Banríon and complete their immediately recognisable alt-rock sound. The jazz backgrounds of Nagle and Harding have allowed Banríon to explore a refreshingly eclectic mix of genres to create a powerful indie sound, already attracted a very loyal fanbase. Banríon has played in venues such as Whelan’s, the Workman’s Club, Bello Bar and the Sound House and their cult following is growing in numbers after every live show. Recorded in Nagle’s home in Connemara, the three-part EP was entirely self- produced.
‘Airport Dads’ provides a short glimpse into Banríon’s alternative indie rock as they create a mature, lush and well balanced EP. ‘Yesterday’s Paper’ kicks things in motion with jangly indie guitars piercing a thick punchy rhythmic wall of sound. It’s a light, sweet tune that floats delicately over an upbeat backdrop and tight musicianship while lyrics explore the fears of day to day life.
Through sweet and delicate tones and catchy refrains the band express pain, angst and vulnerability. Banríon take tender and raw themes of disability, feelings of uncertainty, emigration and heartbreak and place rich, delicate and compelling musicianship around them to heighten and highlight the emotion one feels during these experiences. A brave undertaking which the four-piece succeed in doing with skill and empathy.
The gliding and elegant flurries of ‘Bunk Beds’ pivot around a rooted guitar jingle and raw rhythmic bounce as the band create an illusive shoegaze soundscape with a more punchy rock foundation. The laid back lull of ‘Ouchie’ brings the EP to a close. The mood is glum as the twinkling on guitar glimmers through the tracks moody melodic flow. Róisín Ní Haicéid’s vocals have a pacifying and soothing tone throughout the EP while delivering coarse and painful lyrics. Her sweet lull and richer depths express emotion effortlessly as she draws you into each song’s enchanting sorrow and diverse emotions.
‘Airport Dads’ shows Banríon know their sound and what they want to achieve. The band have created a wonderful collection of time stopping and utterly moving tunes with sublime dreamy moments and raw emotive themes to provide an honest, real, and emotional EP.
Cork based noise pop outfit Deadbog have released their new self titled EP. The band formed in summer 2018 by friends Danny O’Shea (guitars and vocals) and Luke Daly (drums). After a number of gigs as a two piece, Rory Burke (guitar) and JJ Lee (bass) completed the line up.
Drenched in reverb with shoegaze elements swirling into a deep psychedelic pool of distortion, Deadbog’s EP is a richly blended four track concoction with equal measures of sweet and sour. The band melt soft dreamy melodies on top of acid soaked guitar and rich intricate rhythmic progressions to create intense moments of raw psych-tinged alternative rock through ‘Morning Swimmer’ and ‘Vending Machine’.With heavy instrumental crashes the tracks build becoming ominous and shrilling as light flickers on guitar progress to coarse pines soaring over thick heavy drum pounds and perilous rapid soundscapes. It’s a hard hitting collection of tracks however, amidst this onslaught of controlled chaos the band show glimpses of sweet delicacy and innocence.
There are very little vocals on the EP. When the vocals do appear it is through a wave of harmonies and expressions. In ’Behold the Coagula’ it’s the vocals and wistful melody that cool the tracks scorching intensity. Deadbog lay this melancholic melody and cooing vocals over a bubbling harsh backdrop of pounding drums and meandering guitars creating a wonderful contrast.‘Gurus’ begins with the most beautiful sweet guitar lament backed by a throbbing beat. The first half of this track ripples with clear and pristine clarity creating a time stopping moment within the EP before the band enhance the song building to its epic and hair raising crescendo.
Deadbog have created an EP that is rich in its intricacies with sweet melancholic and dreamy moments flickering between the band’s blast of controlled chaos. The intense and blistering instrumentation is created with such precision, as the band carefully allows the softer tender moments to flourish, almost untouched, in this frenzied atmosphere.It’s an impressive balancing act.
Easy Tide have released their new single ‘Carpet Grave’ which was recorded by the band in Fennor Lane Studios. Easy Tide are a DIY Garage band hailing from Navan Co Meath. Members include Aaron Dunphy on Bass and Vocals , Steven Rafferty on Guitar and Vocals and Mark Carolan on Drums and Vocals.
‘Carpet Grave’ presents Easy Tide’s punchy alternative rock through a hazy laid back garage rock filter. The band cruise through light ethereal guitar melodies and warm rumble on bass with a sluggish lazy day attitude. The track bops with an airy texture as the buoyant drums create both a spongy cushion for the verses and a punchy bite for the chorus. Glistening guitars ricochet off the heavy drum progression as the track drifts effortlessly from moody verses into the dynamic chorus and crescendo. Well crafted and exuding shoegaze elements, ‘Carpet Crave’ is a sun speckled sulky number that is just as sharp and punchy as it is melodic and dreamy.
Dublin’s disco-punks Munky have released their new single ‘Closed Door Policy’. For this new single the quartet teamed up once again with producer Dan Doherty (Fontaines D.C., Damien Dempsey, Somebody’s Child).2019 saw the band release their debut EP, tour Europe with the legendary Meat Puppets and release post-apocalyptic single Megaton.
Saturating their sound in a cool hazy shoegaze coating ‘Closed Door Policy’ shows strong growth in Munky. The quartet create a new dreamy and mellow texture within their sound as they brood and cultivate the track meticulously with funk flavoured bass lines and distilled shuffling drums which provides a slinky elastic texture that wobbles and warps the track’s underbelly.
Beautiful melodious guitars weave and twinkle while coiling around the infectious rhythmic bounce creating a wonderful sense of subtle tension within the ethereal airy soundscape. The band allow the guitars to elevate off the fluctuant bass and drum foundation before returning for the dynamic crescendo while Zac Stephenson’s soulful vocals caress the lamenting melody with a velvety croon, adding to the marshmallow bounce of the track. As the song progresses the sublime Toisín and Sinead McConville take to backing vocals to drive the track home. The massive crescendo packs oodles of punch as here we finally see the heavy vigor we know Munky for. The band have layered this track sublimely teasing and foreshadowing their powerful crescendo through light sprinklings and darker undertones to create a full bodied and utterly thrilling listening experience.
About the track the band said:: ”The song was written about isolating oneself from others, for fear of overexposing yourself, for fear of growing stale”
Sun Mahshene, Ireland’s premier shoegaze / noise-rock band have released a new digital EP , ‘Contradictions and Tales of Fiction’. Coming off the back of a successful 2019, the EP contains two previously unreleased Sun Mahshene tracks along with their three critically acclaimed singles, Tales of Fiction, Leave This City and This Girl I Know. All tracks were recorded at Darklands Audio, Dublin and co-produced with Daniel Doherty (Fontaines DC, Vulpynes, Slyrydes, Damien Dempsey, Sombodys Child).
With psychedelic adrenaline-filled highs and fuzz fueled intensity smudged into sweet melodies and a thrilling wall of sound ‘Contradictions and Tales of Fiction’ is laced in Sun Mahshene’s first rate and exhilarating musicianship. The EP is the prismatic swirling home of ‘Tales of Fiction’, ‘Leave This City’ and ‘This Girl I Know’ – three sublime singles previously featured on Indie Buddie. The composition within these tracks are rich and thoughtful as dreamy melodies drift above a fizzing underbelly of dynamic, crashing and frenetic instrumentation. It is easy to get lost in the layers of intricate wobbly guitars lines, rooted bass grooves and punchy drums as acid soaked distortion swirls prismatic facets of blinding scintillation between the effortless cool vocal delivery by Nathan Henderson.
The band warp, dazzle and bend genres with tracks like ‘Ride The Wave’. Opulent textures create a psych pop mirage through a heavy alternative sonic sheen while a moody grunge – esque melody floats lucidly over this dazing harsh backdrop as if aloof to the bubbling mania beneath. ‘Demons Gold’ closes the EP on a high. The band craft wonderful component parts to produce a mellowed gem brimming with intricacies. From the lamenting guitars weaving elegantly between thumping drums and shimmering keys the track maintains the band’s majestic intense sound with a level of grace and prowess only Sun Mahshene can do.
‘Contradictions and Tales of Fiction’ is an impressive display of musicianship from Sun Mahshene.Their ability to create implosive epic tunes which exude exquisite production is mesmerising.
Stream ‘Contradictions and Tales of Fiction’ below
Cabbage return with their new single ‘You’ve Made An Art Form (From Falling To Pieces)’.Since forming in 2014, Cabbage have occupied provocative territory by promoting progressive politics and supporting charitable causes through their live shows, leading them to be featured the BBC Radio Four documentary ‘The Art of Now: Band Politics’. At the same time as headlining sell-out UK tours, the band played Edgeley Park with Blossoms in 2019 and launched their debut album with a one-off, specially-curated exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery.
‘You’ve Made An Art Form (From Falling To Pieces)’ fizzes with a sweet sugary splash as Cabbage splurge melodic indie pop over an edged post punk canvas. The band create one nectarous irresistible gem as they swirl sharp buzzing guitars over a punchy acute wall of sound while the lush honeyed melody and soft backing vocals sweeten the blistering backdrop with a hazy shoegaze tonality. The band melt a hefty dose of psychedelia over the track creating a multi layered song that bubbles and broods within a prismatic sunny glow of delight while an acidic sting ferments beneath this rosy hue. The lyrics discuss the theme of mental health and suicide as Cabbage use gripping, woozy and blazing musicianship to create a truly invigorating track.
About the track the band’s co-frontman and songwriter, Joe Martin says its a “brutally honest exploration of mental health and suicide within young men and the survivalist, Victoria Wood-esque juxtaposition of salvaging a smile through dreariness and despair. After much deliberation, we feel that the time is right to share this. The chorus line actually originated in a ‘Coronation Street’ script in 1988, with Deirdre remarking to Ken: ‘I wonder what advanced state of dither we’ll find you in today, Ken, you make an art form from falling to pieces.’ We don’t mind sharing our complete love and adoration for those old, hilariously crafted dialogues.”
Watch the video for ‘You’ve Made An Art Form (From Falling To Pieces)’ below
Author : Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
